'''''The New Shadow''''' was an incomplete sequel (approximately 13 pages) to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] quickly abandoned. It is set in the time of [[Eldarion]], [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]]'s son, approximately 105 years after the Fall of the [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]]. In it is mentioned the [[Dark Tree]], and two characters: [[Saelon]] and [[Borlas]]. Tolkien commented this on it:

+

{{expansion}}

+

{{POME}}

+

'''The New Shadow''' is an incomplete sequel (approximately 13 pages) to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] quickly abandoned. The manuscript was published as chapter sixteen of ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''. It is set in the time of [[Eldarion]], [[Aragorn|Elessar]]'s son, approximately 125 years after the Fall of the [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]]. In it is mentioned the [[Dark Tree]], and two characters: [[Saelon]] and [[Borlas]].

−

{{quote|I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the Downfall, but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with ''[[Men]]'' it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of [[Gondor]] in times of peace, justice and prosperity, would become discontented and restless — while the dynasts descended from [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] would become just kings and governers — like [[Denethor II|Denethor]] or worse. I found that even so early there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being [[Orcs]] and going around doing damage. I could have written a 'thirller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow — but it would have been just that. Not worth doing.|''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''}}

+

Tolkien commented this on it:

+

{{Blockquote|I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the Downfall, but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with ''[[Men]]'' it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of [[Gondor]] in times of peace, justice and prosperity, would become discontented and restless — while the dynasts descended from [[Aragorn]] would become just kings and governors — like [[Denethor]] or worse. I found that even so early there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being [[Orcs]] and going around doing damage. I could have written a 'thriller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow — but it would have been just that. Not worth doing.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref>{{L|256}}</ref>}}

I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the Downfall, but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with Men it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of Gondor in times of peace, justice and prosperity, would become discontented and restless — while the dynasts descended from Aragorn would become just kings and governors — like Denethor or worse. I found that even so early there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being Orcs and going around doing damage. I could have written a 'thriller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow — but it would have been just that. Not worth doing.—J.R.R. Tolkien[1]